New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the 19 remaining states and Union territories to declare cancer a "notifiable disease" to ensure early detection and proper care of patients. The top court's direction came after it was informed that 17 of the 36 states and UTs have so far notified cancer as a "notified disease" in light of the recommendations made in a parliamentary standing committee report. Additional Solicitor General Anil Kaushik, appearing in the court for the Centre, said health is a state subject. In his plea, Srivastava has highlighted the failure on the part of the Union health ministry and the states to declare cancer a notifiable disease across India. This duality, the plea submits, has resulted in a "legal vacuum", wherein some states have notified cancer while many others have not and this has led to severe inconsistencies in reporting and early detection.